In a stunning display of fiscal responsibility, Hamtramck MI taxpayers will now be footing the bill for Mayor Adam Alharbi’s private legal adventure — a modest tab of about $200,000, which city officials assure us is no big deal because, apparently, money is imaginary.

The bill stems from Alharbi’s heroic crusade to prevent 37 ballots — yes, thirty‑seven — from being counted in last November’s election. He won by 11 votes, so naturally, he concluded that counting additional ballots would be an outrageous assault on democracy.

Alharbi insists this is not his personal legal bill. No, no — this is the city’s responsibility. Because nothing says “public service” like asking residents to pay for your attempt to stop residents’ votes from being counted.

A Brief Recap of This Civic Masterpiece

In this Muslim-majority city located within Detroit City, former councilmember Muhith Mahmood sued the Wayne County Board of Canvassers and the City of Hamtramck, arguing that voters deserve to have their ballots counted. Radical idea.

The city admitted the clerk’s office mishandled the ballots but insisted the mistake wasn’t that bad. The ballots were found the next day — which, in Hamtramck time, is practically early.

Mahmood said the ballots should be counted. Alharbi said the ballots were tainted, compromised, contaminated, spiritually unclean — pick your adjective — because they briefly existed in the same building as city staff.

At the time, Alharbi wasn’t even mayor yet. He just jumped into the lawsuit on his own, hired his own attorney, and racked up a bill that could buy a house in Hamtramck.

The Legal Odyssey

The county canvassers split 2–2 on whether to count the ballots, which legally means: “Nope.”

The case ping‑ponged through the courts until the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled the ballots must be counted. Alharbi begged the Michigan Supreme Court to intervene. The Supreme Court declined, presumably because they had better things to do.

The City Council Steps In (Sort Of)

A few weeks ago, the council attempted to approve paying Alharbi’s legal bill. Only two members voted yes, one voted no, and the rest were apparently on mute. The city attorney later announced the vote was invalid because — surprise — you need a quorum.

Fast‑forward to Tuesday night. The resolution magically reappeared on the agenda, and this time it passed thanks to councilmembers Nayeem Choudhury, Abu Musa, and Muhtasin Sadman.

Councilmembers Mohammed Hassan and Yousuf Saed abstained, presumably because they didn’t want their names attached to this circus. Councilmember Mohammed Alsomiri voted no and had the audacity to ask how much the city would be paying. Alharbi responded with the classic “I’ll send the invoice later.”

The Budget Fairy Tale

Alharbi assured everyone the city has an $8 million surplus, which is fascinating because a recent financial report said the city is actually deficit‑spending and has already burned through its surplus.

But don’t worry — according to the mayor, paying $200,000 for his personal legal battle is not a “cost to the city.” He’s “just being real.”

Who Put This on the Agenda?

The Review asked Acting City Manager Syed Amir Hassan — also the city’s financial director — for clarification. He did not respond.

The Review asked Alharbi whether he placed the resolution on the agenda. He also did not respond.

The city charter says the mayor and city manager set the agenda together. So either one of them did it, or elves did.

The Logic Behind Making Taxpayers Pay

Alharbi claims the city should pay because Mahmood sued “the city and the sitting mayor.” Small problem: He wasn’t the sitting mayor at the time.

He hired an attorney without city approval. He didn’t ask the city to pay until months later. But now, suddenly, this is the city’s moral obligation.

And the Best Part?

The ballots — the ones Alharbi spent $200,000 trying to stop — are expected to be counted within the next week or two.

Which means there is a non‑zero chance that Hamtramck taxpayers are paying for the legal defense of a mayor who may not be mayor much longer.

Hamtramck: where the plot twists write themselves.

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